CINCINNATI — —Bengals cornerbacks had not intercepted a pass this season until Terence Newman picked off Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning twice in the third quarter Sunday.

The fifth multi-interception game of Newman's career helped the Bengals pull ahead of Denver — ever so briefly — in a 31-23 loss at Paul Brown Stadium.

"That was nice, but at the end of the day, we lost the game," said Newman, who is in his 10th NFL season. "It was pretty much all for naught. One of our goals was to get more turnovers, but at the same time, we didn't make big enough plays down the stretch."

Manning entered Sunday undefeated in seven career games against the Bengals. In those contests, the four-time NFL MVP had thrown only three interceptions, and never more than one in a game.

Newman's first takeaway — the 33rd of his career — came in the end zone on a pass intended for Decker with 5:30 remaining in the third quarter.

"I was just kind of reading the release of the receiver," he said. "The pop pass is kind of a big play around the league. When it came off kind of slow, I just jumped inside thinking it was going to be an inside pass, and it was."

Said Manning: "I'd love to have that one back."

He was under pressure when he threw deep in Decker's direction on third-and-8 from the Broncos' 3-yard line. Nate Clements hit Manning as he threw and the ball went over Decker's head. Newman intercepted it at the Denver 27.

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"They had given the same route without the double move all day," Newman said. "So coming off the goal line, I just had it in my head that I was going to probably get the double move given the situation; they're backed up. It's third down.

"He gave me the double move and I kind of reacted and I just opened up and looked and the ball was in the air. It was one of those things where our coaches did a good job of preparing us for that particular route. It's one of those things where what they're telling us paid off."

Before Sunday, Manning had thrown only one interception since the Falcons picked him off three times in Week 2.

Manning and the Broncos trailed 20-17 on Sunday when they got the ball back with 14:10 remaining. Denver then drove 80 yards in five plays to retake the lead.

The drive included a 30-yard completion to Decker over the middle on third-and-3 from the Denver 27. Newman was covering Decker and attempted to make a play on the ball.

"Peyton put the ball where it had to be put — inside," he said. "I think the ball was kind of high, which made it tough for me to make a play on it. I think it was one of those ones where I had a chance to make a play and I just didn't make it."

The Broncos extended their lead to 11 points on a 4-yard pass from Manning to Decker with 3:36 remaining in the game. Newman was called for pass interference, but initially reacted as if he thought the call was against Decker.

"I thought it was going our way," he said. "I did a good job of turning and looking for the ball, trying to get in position. I guess he said that I pushed him off."

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